Choice wouldn’t mind trade

Tashard Choice said Sunday he would welcome a trade from the Dallas Cowboys if it meant a chance to show he can be a No. 1 running back.

“I love being in Dallas, but I just know I should be playing more,” Choice said during an appearance at the Dallas Cowboys Grilling Products FanFest at the San Antonio Events Center. “When we lose and I don’t get much of a chance, I’m sick.”

Choice, who has been mentioned in trade rumors involving San Diego Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie, was the least-used component of a three-pronged running attack last season that included Marion Barber and Felix Jones.

But a trade involving Choice seems unlikely after Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones told reporters in Indianapolis last week he expects all three runners to return next season.

“All I look for is to help my team win, but there comes a time when you want more opportunities to run the football,” Choice told the Express-News before Sunday’s event. “It’s nothing against the other backs, but I just know I can play. I just feel like I should get the ball more, that I should be in the offense more than I was last year.”

Choice later told fans during a question-and-answer session “there are a lot of teams trying to get me” because “they think I can be their featured guy.”

Asked about his role as the trigger man in the Razorback formation, the Cowboys’ version of the Wildcat, Choice suggested he thinks offensive coordinator Jason Garrett hasn’t utilized it correctly.

“It’s a cool formation,” Choice said. “But when you don’t have many plays coming from it, (opponents) know what you are running. (The Razorback) creates a lot of mismatches, but you have to have a wrinkle. You have to throw the ball. You have to run to both sides.”

Choice has two years left on the contract he signed as a rookie in 2008.

“I’d love to stay here and have a major role,” he said. “I can play, man. I love Barber. I love Felix. But I don’t want to play only when they’re hurt.”